Guard for ferryboats, drawbridges, and the like



W. J. DONOVAN.

GUARD FOR FERRYBOATS, DRAWBRIDGES, AND THE LIKE.

APPLxcATIoN FILED AuG.|2. 1920.

1,403,750, Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

MHH

Invenor. William J. Donovan UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM DONOVAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR-OF ONE-HALF T0 RICHARD MINTON, OF EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

GUARD FOR FERRYBOATS, DRAWBRIDGES, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 17, 1922.

Application filed August 12, 1920. Serial No. 403,122.

To all whomz't may concern.'

Be it known that I, VILLIAM J. DONOVAN` a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massa chusetts, have invented an Improvement in Guards for Ferryboats, Drawbridges, and the like, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to guards or barriers such as are used on terry-boats, drawbridges and like structures to protect vehicles and passengers from fallingr olf from the end of the ferry-boat, drawbridge, etc.

The invention relates particularly to barriers of this type which comprise a flexible connection in the form of a chain or rope that is stretched across the open space and is connected at its ends to posts or similar supports.

lOne of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel barrier or guard in which there is a yielding connection between the chain or other flexible connection and the supporting post so that if the chains are struck by a moving vehicle or receive any other sharp impact, they can yield sutilciently to obviate the r' nger of breakage.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a novel barrier for the above purpose in which the posts have a. swiveling action so that if a moving vehicle engages the chain and bends the latter outwardly. the posts can have a corresponding swingingY action, thus more evenly distributing the strain. Other objects of the invention are to improve barriers of this type in other respects, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

in order to give an understandin of my invention, l have illustrated in the dgrawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described, after which the novel features will be pointed outin the appended claims.

Fig. i is a front view of a barrier embodying any invention; y v

Fig. 2 is i1. vie-w of one of the posts 'showing it partly in section;

Fig. 3 a section on the line 3-m3 Fig'. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear View of the upperend of one of the posts;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the base of a post showing the buffer springs to vieldingly hold the post centered.

My improved barrier or guard relates to that class which comprises one or more flexible connections l usually in the form of chains that are supported at their ends by posts 2. Each chain isdetachably connected to one of the posts so that it can be readily disconnected therefrom when the barrier is to be removed.

As stated above, one of the features of my invention relates to the provision of a yielding connection between the chains and the posts so that if the chains are struck by a moving vehicle there will be suicient give or yield to prevent the chains from becoming broken. The posts 2 may be made in any suitable way, but I will preferably make them of cast metal. Each post is shown as being secured to a base plate 3 which in turn is secured in some suitable Way to the deck of the ferry-boat, where the invention is used as a barrier for ferry-boats, or to the floor or road-bed of the bridge abutment, where the device is used in connection With a dra-wbridge. Each of the posts will preferably be so connected to the base plate that the post can turn slightly. For this purpose each base plate 3 is provided with a pivotal stud 4 which extends up through the foot 5 of the post and constitutes a pivot about which the post may turn. This pivotal stud 4 has a nut 6 screw-threaded thereto which serves to hold the post in place. The post is also formed near its upper end with a trunnion portion 7 which is situated vertically over and in axial alinement with the pivotal stud 4. The post is formed so as to present an opening 8 between the trunnion portion 7 and the body of the post. This trunnion 'portionis received in a suitable bearing carto the member 11 by suitable bolts 13. The diagonal braces 9 are secured to the ends of the member 11 by meals of bolts or screws 14. Vith this construction each post 2 is not only thoroughly braced so that it will withstand any strain which may be applied to the chains 1, but it is also constructed so that it has a limited turning movement about a vertical axis.

The yielding connection between the chains 1 and the posts may assume various forms without departing from the invention. As illustrative of one practical construction, I have shown each chain as secured to an eyebolt 15 which extends transversely through the post and carries at its end a collar 16 that bears against a coiled spring 17 that encircles the eye-bolt and is situated between said collar and the post. Each spring is shown as enclosed in a housing or cap 18 which is secured to the back side of the bolt by suitable screws 19. Where two chains are used, then each post will be provided with two of these spring connections, one for each chain, and each chain will have at one end a hook by which it may be readily attached ,tp or detached from the corresponding eyeolt.

When the chains are stretched across the space between the posts, as shown in Fig, 1, there is always more or less sag in the chain, and if the chain should be struck by a moving vehicle it would be bowed outwardly as far as the slack in the chain will permit. When the chain becomes taut, then any further pressure thereagainst by the vehicle will compress the springs 17 and thus bring the vehicle t0 a stop with a yielding action which will eliminate the danger of the chain breaking which exists where there is no such yielding action. The pressure of a vehicle or other object against the chain will also have a tendency to turn the posts slightly, this being permitted by the manner in which the posts are mounted.

I have provided herein a construction for limiting the swinging movement of the posts which also operates to bring the posts back to their central position again whenever the pressure is relieved. This means is herein shown in the form of a forked member 19 which is secured to each bed plate 3 and is provided with the two arms 20 that embrace the web ortion 21 of the posts. Each arm is provi ed with a spring-positioning projection 22 which is encircled by a buffer spring 23. Said springs 23 have engagement with the opposite sides of the web 21. When the post is turned one ofthe springs will. be compressed, and when the turning pressure on the post is relieved, the springs operate to return the post to its central position. This member 19 not only centers the posts, but also acts as a means to limit the turning movement.

I claim 1. In a guard or barrier for ferry-boatsv and the like, the combination with two posts situated in fixed positions on opposite sides of a passageway, each post mounted to turn about a vertical axis, of a flexible barrier extending from one post to the other, and a `connection independent of the barrier between said barrier and each post capable of yielding in a direction longitudinally of the barrier, whereby said posts will turn as the barrier is bowed outwardly when struck by a moving object.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with two osts situated in xed positions on opposite sides of a passageway, each post mounted to turn about a vertical axis, an eye bolt supported by each post, a flexible barrier connected t0 the eye bolts, and a spring acting on each eye boltand resisting movement thereof in the direction of the length of the barrier.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with two posts situated on opposite sides of a passageway, of a 'llexible barrier extendin from one post to the other and an indepen ent spring connection between the barrier and each post, which connection is adapted to yield in the direction of the length of the barrier, said post being mountedv to turn about a vertical axis whereby when the barrier is struck by a moving object and is bowed outwardly the p osts will follow the movement of the barrier.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with two posts, each swiveled to turn about a vertical axis, a brace for each dpost, each post being pivotally con necte to its brace, and a flexible barrier 'connected to said posts.

5. In a device of the class described, the combina-tion with two posts, each swiveled to turn about av vertical axis, of a brace for each post, each post being pivotally connected to itsbrace, a flexible barrier extending between the posts, and a spring connection between the barrier and each post.

6. In a device of the class described. the combination with two posts, of a flexible barrier extending from one post to the other, a yielding connection between the barrier and each post, each post being mounted to have a limited turning movement about a vertical axis so that the post will follow the movement of the barrier when it is struck by a moving object and is bowed' outwardly, and means tending to return each post to its normal position.

7. In a guard or barrier for ferry boats and the like, the combination with two posts each swivelled to turn about a vertical axis, of an eye bolt extending transversely through each post, a collar on each eye bolt, a spring interposed between each collar and the corresponding post, and a. liexible connection extending from one eye bolt to the other.

8. In a guard or barrier for ferry-boats and the like, the combination with two posts, of an eye bolt extending transversely through each post, a collar on each eye bolt,

a spring interposed between each collar and WILLIAM J. DONOVAN. 

